Hackling-machine for flax and other like fibers.



R. V. EVE-S.

momma MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,1911. 1,083 928 Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

9 SHBET8-SHBET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANuuRAvH 50.. WASHINGTON, D c.

R. V. EVES.

HAOKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR rza w flz've s TON, n. c.

NOGRAPH c0 R. v. EVES.

HAOKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911. 1,083,928. Patented Jan. 13,1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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WITNESSES. INVENTOR z z'aa, ZcZ az e 6 COLUMBIA 'PLANOORAPHCG.,WASHINGNN, n. c

v R.V.EVES. HAGKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911. 1,083,928 Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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R. V. EVBS.

HAGKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911.

1,083,928, Patentd Jan. 13, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

coLuMulA PLANCIGRAPH to, WASHINGTON, D. c.

R. V. EVES.

HAGKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911'.

1,083,928. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTOR R zizza ZQZ ZZTVe R. V. EVES.

HAGKLING MACHINE FOB. FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1911.

1,083,928. Patented Jan; 13, 1914.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

WITNESSES INVENTOR W Z 226 z'nazaz az @Z /&Q

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H co.,wAsulN010N. u. c,

R. V. EVES.

HAGKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLIGATION TILED JAN. 9, 1911.

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R. V. EVES.

HAOKLING MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAILQ, 1911.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

' 9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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TTEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REGINALD VALENTINE EVES, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

HAGKLING-MACHINE FOR FLAX AND OTHER LIKE FIBERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REGINALD VALnN'rmn Evns, a British subject, residingat Belfast, county Antrim, Ireland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hackling-Machines for Flax and other like F ibers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the now well known hacklingmachines in which the stricks of fiaxclamped in holdersare passedbetween two revolving sheets of hackle pins to hackle one end, thestricks of flax being subsequently re-adjusted in the holders (byunscrewing the holders and drawing the flax through) and passed betweenthe sheets of a second machine to hackle the other end, as described inthe specification of Patent 775,352. During this hackling process anumber of the flax fibers are broken so that when the process isfinished the stricks contain a proportion of short fibers mainly neartheir centers, where they are gripped by the holder plates, and theseshort fibers or tow are removed by the sorters in the next process.

The object of this invention is to provide for removal of the shortfibers from the centers of the stricks before they leave the hacklingmachines, and so enable a higher grade of flax to be produced and sentdirect to the spread-board than hitherto, and the inven tion consists inthe general construction and arrangement of the machinery for effectingsuch removal.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming part of the specification.

Figure 1. is a diagrammatic plan view of hackling machinery showing oneform of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2. is a similar view showinga modification of the invention. Fig. 3. is a fragmental diagrammaticplan view of a further modification. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of theautomatic mechanism 3 of Fig. 1. for turning the holders andre-adjusting the flax stricks. Fig. 5. is a side elevation of same. Fig.6. is a plan of part of same. Fig. 7. is an end elevation of theautomatic mechanism 10 of Fig. 2. for unscrewing and rescrewing the flaxholders and re-adjusting the fiax stricks therein. Fig. 8. is a sideelevation of same. Fig. 9. is an end elevation of the automaticSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 9, 1911.

Patented J an. 13,1914.

Serial No. 601,714.

mechanism 11 of Fig. 2 for turning the flax holders after the flaxstricks have been readjusted therein. Fig. 10. is a side elevation ofsame.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. a pair of hackling machines 1 and 2of ordinary construction are placed with a cross channel 3 at one endwhere the holders are filled with the stricks of flax and a crosschannel 1 at the other end where the holders are un screwed and theposition of the flax therein is changed (as described in Patent No.775,352).

The longitudinal channels 5 of the two machines are elongated orextended, that of the machine 1in which the root end of the flax ishackledat the feed end to correspond with that of the other machine andat the charging end to enable a touch pin 6 (such as described withreference to Fig. 16 of English Patent No. 19,118 of 1903) and afinishing machine 7 for clearing the neps out of the ends to be insertedin the length of the machine before the flax and holders reach thechanging cross channel 1 1. The finishing machine 7 is of well knownform with two hackle sheets the tools in at least one row on each sheetbeing preferably of the kind described in Figs. 4% to of English PatentNo. 19,118 of 1903.

The longitudinal channel 5 of the second machine in which the tow end ofthe flax is hackled is elongated at the delivery end to enable a touchpin 6 and finishing machine 7 to be inserted, and an additional channel5" moving synchronously with the channel 5 is added to admit of theinsertion of automatic mechanism 8 for turning the holders andreadjiiisting the flax stricks therein (as hereinafter fully described)and an additional finishing or ending machine 7 similar to the machine7.

The mechanism 8 unscrews the holders readjusts the fiax stricks thereinand re-screws the holders the flax stricks being then gripped in tne newposition by the holders at the same part as is held by the hand of ahand hackler when clearing out the loose tow therefrom, and the machine7 cleans the short fibers or low out of the centers of the flax-stricks.The ends of the longitudinal channels 5 and 5 are fitted with suitabletransfer tables 9 to enable the holders to be passed from one channel toanother (such as described in English Patent No. 3,998 of 1908). Ifrequired the flax may be changed a second time in the holders by the useof another mechanism such as S and another finishing machine such as 7*.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 in sofar as relates to the hackling machine 1 and the cross channels 3 and4t. At the end of hackling machine 2 a short longitudinal stationarychannel 5 is placedat a level with the bot tom of the lift along whichthe holders are passed in a vertical position and mechanism 10 isapplied thereto for unscrewing and rescrewing the holders and fordrawing the flax through in an upward direction to a suitable position(as previously indicated) for the short fibers to be removed therefrom.A second longitudinal reciprocating channel 5 is placed at the end ofthe channel 5 with a touch pin 6 for breaking the ends and a finishingmachine 7 for clearing the ends of nep. A turning machine 11 is placedin the line of the channel 5 to invert the holder so that the middle ofthe strick which was drawn out of the holder by the mechanism 7 can beoperated on by another finishing or ending machine 7*. The ends of thelongitudinal channels are fitted with suitable transfer tables 9 toenable the holders to be passed from one channel to another (such asdescribed in English Patent No. 3,998 of 1908). In this case too asecond set of unscrewing and pulling through mechanism and a secondturning over ring and a second finishing machine may be used.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is very similar to that shown in Fig. 1with the exception that the turn over mechanism 8 and the finalfinishing machine 7' are placed at the delivery end of the machine thefinishing machine being outside the channel 3 and the turn overmechanism delivering the holders to the cross channel.

The automatic mechanism 8 of Fig. 1, for turning the flax holders A andre-arranging the fiax-stricks therein to permit of the loose fibers ortow being removed from the middle. see Figs. l, 5 and 6, comprises aturn table C with four arms 0 c c c placed between the ends of thechannels 5 and 5 the ends of the channels being provided with transfertables 9 (such as described in English Patent 8,998 of 1908). The turntable C is mounted upon a vertical stud c forming a pivot about which itcan rotate and each of the arms 0 to a is fitted upon a spindle cmounted in a central bearing and capable of being rotated about its ownaxis. The turn table C is fitted with a pinion C by which it is retatedby a train of wheels and upon the inner end of each spindle c a bevelwheel 0 is keyed which gears with a broad-faced stationary bevel wheel 0fixed to the upper end of the stationary stud c. As the turn table Crotates upon the stud 0 the bevels 0 roll upon the stationary bevel cand rotate the arms 0c about their own axes so that they each make onecomplete revolution with each revolution of the turn table C. The arms0'c are channel shaped and formcarriers for the flax holders A totransfer them from the channel 5 to the channel 5*. The rotation of theturn table C is intermittent and in the position shown in Fig. 6 theflax holder A in the arm or carrier 0 is vertical, that in the arm orcarrier 0 is horizontal, that in the arm or carrier 0 is again verticalbut reversed or turned over and the arm or carrier 0* is empty orwithout a flax holder and is returning to the position of c. The pinionC of the turn table is rotated a quarter turn by the wheel D mounted ona stud (Z gearing therewith. The gear D is provided with just sufficientteeth to rotate the pinion C through a quarter revolution and the pinionC carries a locking plate C with four faces to engage the rim of alocking disk D keyed or otherwise afiixed to the boss of the gear D, thedisk being provided with a gap d to permit the locking plate C to turnwhen the teeth on D engage with those of the pinion G.

A gear D is keyed to the boss of the gear D and is driven by a gear (Zkeyed to the shaft D making one revolution for each lift of the hacklingmachine. The gears D and (Z are of equal size so that gear D makes onerevolution for each lift of the hackling machine. Any other form of gearmay be employed to impart a quarter revolution to the turntable C andlock it in position at each lift of the machine.

Above the turn table C mechanism is mounted for unscrewing andrescrewing the nuts a of the flax holders A when in a horizontalposition and for drawing the flax stricks through them, see Figs. 4: and5. A vertical spindle E with a box key 6 at its lower end carried in abearing 6 is mounted so as to be raised and lowered and rotated aboutits axis first in one direction and then in the reverse direction. Onits upper end the spindle E is fitted with a bevel gear 0 through whichit slides and which is driven in the direction for unscrewing the nut aby a bevel gear 6 and in the direction for rescrewing the nut a by thebevel gear eboth mounted loosely on the constantly rotating shaft F. Thebevel gear 0 is driven at the proper time by the clutch and the gear aby the clutch f. The clutch f is pressed into engagement with the bevelgear 6 by a constantly acting spring f the movement of the clutch beingcontrolled by a cam G fixed to the cam shaft 9 making one revolution ofeach lift of the hackling machine and acting through a lever g, whichallows the clutch to engage thebevel gear when the unscrewing of the nutcommences and withdraws it when the unscrewing is complete. The clutch fis similarly operated by a spring f and controlled by a cam G actingthrough a lever g which allows the clutch to engage the bevel gear awhen the rescrewing of the nut a is required and the-clutch slips out ofgear and is held out by the lever g when the nut is screwed up therequired tension.

The vertical key spindle E is raised and lowered to engage and disengagethe nuts (0 of the flax holders A at the time required by a cam Goperating through the forked lever 9 upon the spindle E.

The flax strick a see Fig. 7 is drawn through the flax holder A when thenut a is unscrewed by a pair of gripping levers H H which close upon theprojecting ends of the strick, each lever being provided with a suitablegripping plate 72. h. The lever H is operated and controlled by a cam ifkeyed to the cam shaft 71. which makes one revolution for each lift ofthe machine and the lever H is operated and controlled by a cam 71 alsokeyed to the cam shaft 7%. The cams 7L3 and k are so formed and timedthat during the movement of the turn table G the levers H and H are inthe positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so as not to foul the arms cc butimmediately on the turntable C coming to rest and during the time thenut a is being unscrewed the levers H H are brought into position togrip the strick and their further movement draws the strick the desireddistance through the holder.

On the completion of the screwing up of the nut 64 by the key 6 on thespindle E and the reclamping of the flax in the holder A the rotation ofthe turntable C is continued bringing the holder A which has beenoperated upon into line with the channel and ready to be carriedforward.

The holders A are moved from the main channel 5 into the carrier arms ctof the turntable C and from them into the channel 5 by means ofmechanism preferably consisting of a series of levers L the upper endsof which engage the lugs a on the holders, (see Fig. 5). The levers Lare linked together by a link Z and are operated by any suitabledevices, as, for instance, a weight W to push the holders A forward andare moved back to starting point by a cam L on the cam shaft 75 actingthrough a lever Z with a runner on the end.

The transfer tables are preferably of the type described in EnglishPatent No. 3,998 of 1908.

The drivin of the whole mechanism may be derived from a convenientpositively driven shaft M through a pitch chain at or suitable gearing.

The automatic mechanism 10 of Fig. 2 for unscrewing and reserewing theflax holders A and for re-adjusting the flaX-stricks therein is shown inFigs. 7 and 8.

A short stationary channel 5 located as indicated in Fig. 2 is placed toreceive the holders from the main channel 5 preferably at or near thebottom of the lift of the main channels. The channel 5 is preferablyconstructed of members K, K of trough section through which the head andnut a of the holder slide, the member K being affixed to the frame ofthe machine by suitable brackets and supports such as is. The member Kis mounted in a bracket 70 and is pressed against a stop washer 70 orits equivalent by a spring 70 to allow suliicient space between themembers K and K to admit of the holder A. The member K can therefore bepressed backward against the pressure of the spring 70 At one side ofthe channel member K mechanism is mounted for unscrewing and rescrewingthe nuts (4 of the holders A. A horizontal spindle E with a box key 6 atits outer end carried in a bearing 6 is mounted so as to be moved to andfro and rotated about its axis first in one and then in the reversedirection. The key spindle E is fitted with a bevel gear 6 through whichit slides and which is driven for an screwing the nut a by a bevel gear6 and in the direction for rescrewing the nut a by the bevel gear 6 Thegears are both mounted loosely on the constantly rotating shaft F andboth remain continually in mesh with the gear 0 The bevel gear a" isdriven at the proper time by the clutch f and the gear 6 and afterwardby the clutch f and the gear 6 both of which rotate with the shaft F Theclutch f is pressed into engagement with the bevel gear 6 by aconstantly acting spring 7' the movement of the clutch being controlledby a cam G acting through a forked lever which allows the clutch toengage said gear 6 when unscrewing the nut a commences, and withdraws itwhen unscrewing is complete. The clutch f is similarly operated by a.spring i and con trolled by a cam G acting through a lever g the end ofwhich rests against the inclined face of the clutch f and allows it toengage the clutch member of the bevel gear 0 when the rescrewing of thenut a is required and when the screwing up is of the required tension,the clutch f slips against the spring pressure, and the lever g beingmoved down against the inclined face acts to keep the clutch out ofgear.

The horizontal key spindle E is moved to and fro to engage and disengagethe nuta of the flax holder A at the time required by a cam G operatingupon the spindle E through the forked lever g and the weighted lever 9with a roller resting upon the periphery of the cam G The fiax-strick ais drawn upward through the flax holder A, when the nut a is unscrewedby a pair of gripping levers H H pivoted upon a shaft or studwhich closeupon the projecting ends of the strick, each lever being provided with asuitable gripping plate h h The lever H is controlled and operated by acam h keyed to the cam shaft it and grips the flax when raised againstthe end of the levers H and draws it through the holder. The cam is soshaped as to bring the gripper 72 against the gripper it to grip theflax, before the unscrewing commences to prevent the flax dropping fromthe holder; and the pulling through takes place after the unscrewing.The cam shaft 7AM carrying the several cams makes one revolution foreach lift of the machine.

The flax holders A are moved from the main channel 5 and transfer orturn tables 9 by catch bar or sliding bar N, to which are pivoted dogsor catches a mounted on a bar 72 fixed to a bracket 72 attachec to theframe. The catch bar N is moved to and fro by the weighted lever 02rocked by a cam h on the cam shaft it acting through the levers a and nto which the lever n is connected by a link or rod a. A spring clutchsuch as n may be applied to any of these levers to give way in casethere is any obstruction to the passage of the flax holders A to preventbreakage. During the cycle of operations of unscrewing the nut of theholder re-adjusting the flax in the holder and rescrewing the nut theholder is held firmly in the channel o by the member K being pressedagainst it by the spring.

The automatic mechanism 11 of Fig. 2 for turning the flax holder A afterthe stricks have been re-adjusted therein is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Arotary channel or carrier O to receive the flax holders is mountedbetween two rings braced together by stays, or bolts 72 forming a drumP. The fiax holders are moved into the channel carrier 0 and the drum isrotated half a revolution at each lift of the machine. The drum P ismounted upon rollers r and held in position thereon by top rollers r therunners being carried by an adjustable frame R mounted in guides in themain frame work of the machine.

The frame is supported by a screw r by which its height can be adjustedfor any height of lift. The drum P is rotated by a cam P acting throughthe lever 29 and upright pawl p the latter engaging the stay bolts 22.The cam P has a double throw and the pawl p is operated twice for eachlift of the hackling machine rotating the holder one fourth revolutioneach time thus completing the turning over of the flaxholder each lift.The height of the upright pawl p is adjusted by moving the bracket palong the slot 79 to suit any height of lift.

Any other suitable mechanism may be adopted for rotating the drum P andchannel 0 half a revolution each lift of the machine.

The drum P is set so that the channel carrier O is level with the topposition of the main channel and the holder A is pushed into the channelcarrier G by the holder behind it, the holders being traversed forwardby the ordinary well known catch bar of the hackling machine.

What I claim as my invention and de sire to protect by Letters Patentis 1. In apparatus for hackling flax or other fibers the combinationwith two hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying thestricks of flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders andfor transferring the fiax holders from one machine to the other, of atouch pin and a finishing machine in line with the first machine, and atouch pin, finishing machine, and changing mechanism for reversing theends of the stricks in the holders, and an auxiliary dressing machine,in line with the second machine substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for hackling flax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of means bywhich the flax stricks in the holders are re-adjusted and the holdersturned over or inverted and placed at theend of the hackling machine,and mechanism by which the short ends of fiber are removed from thecenter of the stricks after the flax has been hackled, substantially asdescribed.

3. In apparatus for hackling fiax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax, and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of a rotaryturn table constructed with four arms, and means for ro tating each armabout its longitudinal axis to turn over and invert the holders,substantially as described.

a. In apparatus for hackling flax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of a rotaryturn table provided with arms, means to rotate the turn table, means torotate each arm of said turn table about its longitudinal axis, mechmesses anism by which the holder nuts are unscrewed and rescrewed, andmechanism for drawing the stricks of flax through the holders,substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for hackling flax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of a rotaryturn table provided with tour radial arms to carry the flax holders,each arm capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, a pivot uponwhich the turn table rotates, a central pinion by which the turn tableis rotated, a train of gears to drive the pinion intermittently, astationary bevel gear concentric with the pivot around which the turntable rotates, and a bevel gear on each radial arm meshing with thestationary gear to rotate the arms, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus for hackling flax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of a rotaryturn table provided with tour radial arms to carry the flax holders,each arm capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, a pivot uponwhich the turn table rotates, a central pin ion by which the turn tableis rotated, a train of gears to drive the pinion intermittently, astationary bevel gear concentric with the pivot around which the turntable rotates, and a bevel gear on each radial arm meshing with thestationary gear to rotate the arms, a box key for unscrewing andrescrewing the nuts of the flax holders, a spindle to carry the box key,bevel gears fitted to the end of the spindle, bevel gears by which thekey is driven, clutches engaging the last mentioned gears, and cams andsuitable connecting means to throw the clutches into and out of gear,substantially as described.

7.111 apparatus for hackling flax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of a rotaryturn table provided with four radial arms to carry the flax holders,each arm capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, a pivot uponwhich the turn table rotates, a central pinion, by which the turn tableis rotated, a train of gears to drive the pinion intermittently, astationary bevel gear concentric with the pivot around which the turntable rotates, and a bevel gear on each radial arm meshing with thestationary gear to rotate the arms, a box key for miscrewing andrescrewing the nuts of the flax holders, a spindle to carry the box key,bevel gears fitted to the end of the spindle, bevel gears by which thekey is driven, clutches engaging the last mentioned gears and cams andsuitable connecting means to throw the clutches into and out of gear,levers by which the flax stricks are gripped to draw them through theholders, a cam to operate one of said levers and a second cam to operatethe other lever, substantially as described.

8. In apparatus for hackling flax and other fibers the combination withtwo hackling machines placed parallel, holders for carrying the stricksof flax and means for changing the stricks in the holders and fortransferring the flax holders from one machine to the other, of a rotaryturn table provided with four radial arms to carry the flax holders,each arm capable of rotation about its longitudinal axis, a pivot uponwhich the turn table rotates, a central pinion by which the turn tableis rotated, a train of gears to drive the pinion intermittently, astationary bevel gear concentric with the pivot around which the turntable rotates, and a bevel gear on each radial arm meshing with thestationary gear to rotate the arms, a box key for unscrewing and rescrewing the nuts ot' the flax holder, a spindle to carry the box key 6,bevel wheels 6 fitted to the end of the spindle, bevel gears by whichthe key is driven, clutches engaging the last mentioned gears and camsand suitable connecting means to throw the clutches into and out ofgear, levers by which the flax stricks are gripped to draw them throughthe holders, a cam to operate one of said levers, a second cam tooperate the other lever, and a finishing machine to remove the looseends of flax after the stricks pass from the turn table, substantiallyas described.

9. A transfer mechanism for the flax holders in hackling machinescomprising a turn table having carrier arms extending therefrom, bevelgears at the inner extremities of said carrier arms, a stationary gearwith which the gears on the carrier arms engage whereby the carrier armsare rotated about their longitudinal axes, means to rotate the turntable, and means on the carrier arms for engaging the holders.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

REGINALD VALENTINE EVES.

Witne sses EDWARD BENNETT, Fnnnx. W. Downer.

Emotes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

